A special supplement of this issue of Drugnet Ireland presents an overview of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, which completed its work in late 2023 and published a final report in January 2024. Ireland’s experience with citizens’ assemblies is recognised internationally as a bold experiment in deliberative democracy and an example of pluralism and inclusion in the policy decision-making process. Unlike some of the previous assemblies, the members of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use were not offered a binary choice and they completed their work with a detailed and nuanced series of recommendations on all aspects of the topic that had been discussed. The members demonstrated exemplary commitment and a remarkable capacity to learn and absorb great detail on the topic. The citizens’ assemblies are evidence of a robust democratic process, an engaged citizenry, and a political environment that allows expression of opposing views and political opinion.

While Ireland faces political, economic, and social challenges, and we need vigilance and care to ensure our democratic institutions remain strong, other countries face far more formidable threats to the democratic process. In 2024, nearly one-half of the world’s population are in countries that will engage in elections to elect a national legislative assembly or select a head of state. This should be a cause for celebration, but much of the political commentary has focused on the difficulties posed by both the perfunctory nature of many of these elections and the growing strength of illiberal political movements in healthy, long-established democracies.

The impact of globalisation on those with limited economic resources, climate emergency and related problems, in particular migration, and increasing international tensions have combined to create an environment not conducive to the spreading of liberal democratic values. The illegal drugs market compounds these factors and presents a separate and very formidable problem for both national governments and international institutions across the globe. Ecuador, a country that had avoided the type of prolonged civil conflict endured by many neighbouring countries, is currently dealing with a profound threat to its stability from organised crime groups determined to counter any interference with their operations. Much of the drug-related criminal activity in Ecuador is connected to the European cocaine market. Describing Wa State, a breakaway region of Myanmar, as a ‘narco state’ is not hyperbolic. Its entire economy depends on supplying the methamphetamine market of South East Asia and growing opium for heroin.

The Netherlands is also dealing with serious threats from organised crime. While these are nowhere near the depths of the problems faced by countries in the Global South, the speed with which they have emerged, the diversity of the problem, and its capacity to impact on so many parts of Dutch society are potentially very destabilising. Much of Europe’s supply of cocaine is routed through the port of Rotterdam, part of an illegal economy marked by both corruption and violence, and much of the profits from this trade are laundered in Amsterdam’s financial centre. Dutch-based laboratories supply much of Europe’s demand for synthetic drugs, such as MDMA, presenting further opportunities for organised crime and serious environmental problems from discarded waste.

The European Commission has identified the illegal drugs market as Europe’s primary internal security concern and recognises its potential to cause considerable political and economic disruption. Ireland has given a lot of attention to the issues of drugs use, and provided the Government with a clear-sighted, empathetic, representative, and radical guide for drug policy. Drugs are an international concern and the response requires cooperation and agreement in organisations like the European Union. Resources, technological advances, and political leadership will be needed for this response to be effective. Much can be learned from Ireland’s experience, and by using the mechanisms of deliberative democracy it may be possible to develop solutions not just effective but which reflect the values and philosophy of European citizenry.